Over the winter break, all classes and many university business operations will be closed or operate on “skeleton crew” beginning Saturday, December 22, 2018 through Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Please be advised that most university buildings are locked during winter break unless otherwise noted on this schedule. The university will resume normal business hours on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 with a few exceptions.

Alternate hours of operations for the following departments and activities at UTSA will apply during winter break:

In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, all classes and many of UTSA business operations will be closed or operate on skeleton crew beginning Thursday, November 22 through Sunday, November 25, 2018. Please contact a specific department directly (i.e. Dining Services, Transportation, Recreation Center, etc) or visit their websites for the most current operating hours during the holiday time-frame.

The UTSA Police Department has been notified by the San Antonio Police Department of a number of burglaries at apartment complexes in the UTSA Blvd area. None of these reported incidents have occurred on our campus, but we urge the campus community to have a heightened awareness of your surroundings. If you see suspicious activity, contact police immediately

As a reminder, when on campus, the UTSA Police Department provides a variety of services to ensure your well-being. They include:

Download the new LiveSafe App. The LiveSafe app allows UTSA students, faculty, and staff to map their own safety walk, report suspicious activity, access safety resources, and many other features. You can download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Learn more on the UTSA Campus Alerts website.

The Safety Escort Program, available to all community members at UTSA’s three campuses 24/7/365. To request a safety escort, call the UTSA Police Department (non-emergency) at 210-458-4242. A UTSA PD public safety officer will meet you to provide the escort;

The Emergency Info section on the UTSA Mobile app, which offers “UTSA Emergency Call” and “UTSA Non-Emergency Call” buttons that allow you to directly call to the UTSA Police Department. The app also provides immediate access to university emergency procedures in the event of a campus crisis;

UTSA’s blue emergency phones, which are located in parking lots, pedestrian walkways and other areas of the campus. Press the “Emergency Call” button to directly connect to the UTSA Police Department.

As you go about your daily activities, whether on campus, in your neighborhood, or elsewhere, we also encourage you to keep in mind tips that discourage and prevent crime:

LOCK YOUR VEHICLES, AND KEEP VALUABLE ITEMS OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT.

SECURE DOORS AND WINDOWS TO YOUR RESIDENCE.

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS: Awareness is your best defense. Know what is happening around you. Be especially careful and alert if you are alone. Watch where you are going and what is going on around you. Look for potential problems and be prepared to react to them. Avoid going to secluded areas.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS: Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Whether alone or in a group, if you think something is wrong, remove yourself from the situation. Don’t be afraid to call for help.

WHEN WALKING, PLAN THE SAFEST AND MOST DIRECT ROUTE: Use well-lit, busy streets, sidewalks and pathways. Walk with friends or a group, especially at night. Always let someone you trust know where you will be going, how you will be getting there and when you plan to return. Avoid areas you are not familiar with, alleys, deserted streets, and secluded and wooded areas.

PROJECT CONFIDENCE: Walk as if you know where you are going. Stand tall. Walk in a confident manner, and hold your head up. Keep your eyes off your mobile device while you are walking.

HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED READY: Hold your keys when going to and from your car, home and office. This will save you time and give you some security. Be wary of self-defense products. Any device you carry can be used against you. If you do carry a device, know how to use it and be prepared to use it if necessary. Also, you should never carry more money than you need.

IF YOU ARE BEING FOLLOWED ON FOOT OR FEEL THREATENED: Cross the street, change direction and go to a safe, busy and well-lit area where you can ask for help or call the police. If a car is following you, turn around and walk in the opposite direction if possible. Write down the license plate number and a description of the car and occupants.

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: Criminals do not want to be seen or heard. They rarely commit crime in front of police officers. We rely on the community to report suspicious activity. We would much rather respond to you and not be needed than not be called when a crime could have been prevented or stopped. Trust your instincts; if something does not feel right, it probably isn’t. Download the free Live Safe App to report suspicious activity.

PROGRAM THE UTSA POLICE NUMBER INTO YOUR PHONE: On the UTSA campuses, our Police Department can respond to emergencies much faster than local law enforcement. Call 210-458-4911 for emergencies and 210-458-4242 for police assistance with non-emergencies.

With your help, we will continue to keep UTSA a safe place to learn, work and live.

Heavy rain associated with a tropical moisture will push across the San Antonio metro and Central Texas today through Sunday. The National Weather Service anticipates 1 – 3 inches, with isolated 5+ inches of rain at times. Please use good, independent judgment on roadways and avoid low-water crossings.

]]>http://alerts.utsa.edu/safety/livesafe-new-safety-app/feed/0New student move-in to close some Main Campus streets on Aug. 17 and 18http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/emergency-training-exercise-to-close-some-main-campus-streets-walkways-on-aug-7/
http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/emergency-training-exercise-to-close-some-main-campus-streets-walkways-on-aug-7/#respondMon, 06 Aug 2018 21:21:34 +0000http://alerts.utsa.edu/?p=2668Road Closure Notice: Friday and Saturday, expect a few road closures and/or detours on the Main Campus due to new student move-in near Chaparral Village, Laurel Village, Alvarez Hall, and Chisholm Hall. Brennan Avenue will be closed to allow families a place to unload vehicles, and Tobin Avenue & Barshop Blvd near West Campus will have heavy traffic related to move-in as well. Please drive slow, watch for pedestrian crossings, and exercise caution in high-traffic areas.

Have a question? Contact the UTSA Office of Emergency Management at BePrepared@utsa.edu. Read more about safety and emergency preparedness by browsing the links in the right-hand column on this page. Also, text “Follow @UTSA_police” to 40404 to receive Twitter alerts from the UTSA Police Department (text “Stop” to discontinue receiving alerts).

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http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/utsa-campuses-are-open/feed/05K Race Closes Main Campus Streets on June 23http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/5k-race-closes-main-campus-streets-on-june-23/
http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/5k-race-closes-main-campus-streets-on-june-23/#respondFri, 22 Jun 2018 13:42:34 +0000http://alerts.utsa.edu/?p=2645On Saturday, June 23, six road closures on the UTSA Main Campus will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the District 8 – 80’s 5K event.

The campus entrance/exits at Peace Blvd., Bauerle Rd. and Tobin Ave. from Brenan St. to the Peace Circle will be closed. All race/run/walk participants should enter campus at the Valero Way entrance.

Parking for the race will be at the East Campus Lots near the start/finish line. Campus streets and intersections that are part of the race route will be closed on Saturday, June 23 from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 9:30 a.m.

VIA riders are advised that VIA buses will continue to operate on campus, however passenger pickups and drop offs may be delayed during the event.

]]>http://alerts.utsa.edu/no-alerts/5k-race-closes-main-campus-streets-on-june-23/feed/0FAQ’s: How UTSA Officials Monitor Weather and What You Should Knowhttp://alerts.utsa.edu/weather/faq-utsa-weather-closures/
http://alerts.utsa.edu/weather/faq-utsa-weather-closures/#respondFri, 22 Jun 2018 13:00:16 +0000http://alerts.utsa.edu/?p=1124During periods of inclement weather, UTSA officials continuously monitor the weather with the safety of the UTSA community in mind. The UTSA Office of Emergency Management coordinates with the National Weather Service, City of San Antonio, and other local, state, and federal agencies to receive the latest forecast information, as well as conditions of streets and highways. The following frequently asked questions will help guide you on what may happen at UTSA:

When does UTSA determine whether or not to close the campuses due to adverse weather?

When inclement weather conditions are expected, UTSA Administrators, in consultation with the UTSA Office of Emergency Management, will assess the latest forecasts and local conditions to determine whether or not to close UTSA campuses. The time frame for deciding this process is based on anticipated or ongoing conditions, and varies from situation to situation. Generally, UTSA will try to give as much lead-time to the campus community concerning a possible closure, which can occur in the evening (before 10 p.m.) or early morning (before 5 a.m.). Subsequently, University Communications and/or Emergency Management staff members will update the (210) 458-SNOW [7669] message, websites, provide notifications, and contact media outlets.

At other universities, they continue to have classes regardless of snow or ice. What criteria are used to close UTSA?

UTSA is committed to making the best decision concerning the safety of students, faculty, and staff. In San Antonio, even a small amount of ice might create an unsafe situation, considering that students and employees travel to the university from various distances. For example, weather in the Hill Country may not be the same as in southern portions of Bexar County. Other universities that are located in the interior of the city may experience very different weather than UTSA on the northside, which may factor in to operational decisions.

What if my situation appears dangerous, and I cannot determine whether or not UTSA is closed?

Everyone is encouraged to make a prudent decision about traveling to campus in consideration of the weather in their area. Use good, independent judgment concerning driving conditions in your area, and be aware of any road closures or inclement conditions. In the event the university is open and your conditions are too dangerous to drive, it is advised to communicate with your professors, coworkers, supervisors, and others about your situation and driving conditions.

How will I be notified of a campus closure?

In the event of a campus closure due to inclement weather or other situation, the university will activate the UTSA Alerts emergency notification system. Users who have opted-in to the UTSA Alerts system will receive a text or voice message, and an email, about the status of campus operations and other pertinent information. If you are unsure of your registration status, or want to update your information in UTSA Alerts, login to ASAP, then click on the “personal information” tab, then select “UTSA Alerts” to verify/update your information in the system. If you wish to not receive alerts, you can check the status of campus operations on the UTSA Alerts homepage. Information will also be posted on official UTSA social media pages (Facebook, Twitter).

What are official resources/links for me to use during inclement weather?

SAPD has issued the all clear for the situation near the downtown campus. Resume normal operations. As always, be aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to UTSA PD at 210-458-4911. Be safe ‘Runners!

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UPDATE at 12:31 PM:
SAPD has caught one of the two suspects with handguns. Updates will follow as available.

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UTSA Alert at 11:41 AM:

SAPD is responding to a report of two Hispanic males with handguns near the McDonald’s around the downtown campus. Report suspicious activity to UTSAPD at x4911.